JoAnn 'Girlie' Hammer

RONAN — JoAnn "Girlie" Hammer, 57, of Woodcock passed away Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006, on her mother's birthday at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula while surrounded by family.

A member of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe, she was born May 6, 1949, in St. Ignatius, to Madeline Barnaby and Joseph Weaselhead. Raised on the Flathead reservation, she received her formal education at Flandreau Indian School.

JoAnn married Sam Hammer and they made their home in Ronan where they started their family.

Joan was a loving mother, who was the champion for kids and enjoyed being with her grandkids. She was also the family pet keeper and loved her dog "Bugs" so much that she gave him the honorary title of Mayor of Woodcock. She enjoyed flashy clothing, sewing and beading as well as the company of her friends. She will be dearly missed.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Sam, son David, sister Stella and brothers Marvin and Leslie Allen Weaselhead.

She leaves behind her loving family of children, Mike Hammer of Ronan, Brenda Hammer (Patrick Lozeau) of Pablo and Renae Hammer of Ronan; grandchildren Shaun, David, Roberta and Eric Hammer; brothers Francis (Nightwind) Weaselhead of Sumpter, Ore., Dalon (Susan) Weaselhead of St. Ignatius, Joseph (Linda) Weaselhead of Ronan, John, Arnold and Gerald Weaselhead of Pablo, Anthony Weaselhead of Missoula and David R. Weaselhead of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; sisters Violet Weaselhead of Charlo, Madeline "Pebbles" (Bobby) Weaselhead of Pablo, Betty (Dave) Van Haverbeke of Pablo; foster parents Bill and Georgie Koll of Ronan; foster sisters Mary Koll of Ronan and Vanita Lozeau of Ronan and foster brother Carl Finley of Missoula.

Mass was celebrated at Thursday, Nov. 30, in the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission.

Foster and Durgeloh Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.